Hair clipper



l. JEPSON HAIR CLIPPER March 5, 1963 l M 1 t m o w y .VM w m.. Mw.: Q WJ m e i @@@OQQO A e 4 @QQ/@@@QAWVQQQVOQQQQ M m Q mw m. 3 m NSN NR E@ s JEPsN HAIR CLIPPER March 5, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1959 w NN mv. nl m ww www mw T M w+ @MT SMMN March 5, 1963 l, -JEPSQN 3,079,687

HAIR CLIPPER Filed July 9, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 64! 749566 ZM 43 March 5, 1963 l. JEPsoN 3,079,687

HAIR CLIPPER Filed July 9, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 :wf/ fhg@ ,Ima

Armas/EY United States Patent Oiitice 3,979,687 HAIR CLIPPER Ivar Jepson, (Bak Park, Ill., assignor to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Iilinois Filed July 9, 1959, Ser. No. 825,933 8 Claims. (Cl. 30-210) The present invention relates to hair clippers and, more specifically, to electric hair clippers particularly well adapted for home use in clipping human hair.

In recent years the cost of obtaining a haircut in a barber shop has increased to such an extent that there has been a real demand for haircutting tools which can be used by an amateur to perform a haircutting operation of a character not too far different from that which a professional barber would do. Additionally, many living in rural areas do not have ready access to barber shops and it has become common practice, particularly with chlidren, to have their hair cut at home. The haircutting operation is often performed by the parents or other members of the household or even neighbors employing the conventional scissors and perhaps hand clippers and occasionally electric clippers. Since most of the inhabitants of our country live in areas where electricity is available, there is an extensive market, therefore, for an inexpensive hair clipper to be used by amatuers in connect-ion with giving haircuts, particularly to chlidrcn, not only to cut down the expense of keeping such children Well groomed but also to eliminate the diculty of getting to barber shops when located at some distance from such shops.

There have been on the market many hair clippers designed for use particularly by professional haircutters, such as barbers, which, although very satisfactory from the standpoint of clipping hair, are relatively expensive and, hence, commercially unattractive to the amature haircutter referred to above. Such a clipper desired by the amateur haircutter must be light in weight, must be foolproof in operation, and above all must be inexpensive to acquire. It would be desirable, therefore, to provide an inexpensive yet very satisfactory hair clipper which would have a long life with a minimum of care and yet which could be extensively used even by professional haircutters.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hair clipper particularly designed for home use.

vt is another object of the present invention to provide an improved hair clipper with a powerful inexpensive motor which will give long years of satisfactory service.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electric hair clipper which is simple and compact and which lends itself to high speed manufacturing on a mass production basis so that it may be sold at a low cost to reach the enormous market with respect to sales of the clipper for home use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an electric hair clipper which is substantially vibration-free insofar as the user thereof is concerned.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specication.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference may be had to the acompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a top plan view of an electric hair clipper and comb guard embodying the present invention with 3,079,687 Patented Mar. 5, 1963 2 the comb guard shown removed tion;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 1 with the upper half of the casing of the hair clipper removed to expose the motor and other parts thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 3, assuming that FIG. 3 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 3, again assuming that FIG. 3 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6 6 of FIG. 3, again assuming that FIG. 3 shows the complete structure and with the control switch in open position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 7 7 of FIG. 3, again assuming that FIG. 3 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8 8 of FIG. 3, again assuming that FIG. 3 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 9 9 of FIG. 3, also assuming that FIG. 3 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 1.0 10 of FIG. 3, also assuming that FIG. 3 shows the complete structure;

FIG. ll is a fragmentary view of FIG. 6 but showing the control switch in closed position;

FIG. l2 is a sectional view taken on line 12--12 of FIG. ll, assuming that FIG. 11 shows the complete structure;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the parts of the switch shown in FIGS. 11 and l2 of the drawings; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical circuit of the hair clipper of the present invention.

The present invention is concerned with an inexpensive electric hair clipper comprising a unitary motor and cutter subassembly arranged for mounting in a two part molded casing, which casing provides a handle for the clipper whereby the latter may readily be grasped by the operator when the clipper is to be used. The subassembly comprising the motor and cutter is mounted on vibration-free mounts within the casing so that vibrations of the motor are not transmitted to the casing which is really a handle supporting the same. Inexpensive and improved switch means are provided for controlling the motor and the cutting mechanism includes a readily removable cutter member with means for holding the cutter in place and for biasing it into shearing engagement with the comb. The parts are designed so that they may be assembled in a high speed manner and result in a small Iinexpensive hair clipper.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated an electric hair clipper generally designated at Ztl which comprises a generally elongated split or two part housing or casing comprising upper housing or casing section ZI and lower section 22. These housing sections define a casing of a size so as to readily be grasped within the hand of an operator. Preferably also, the casing comprising sections Zlt and 22 is molded or otherwise formed from a suitable plastic material having electric insulating characteristics which material will also take suitable dyes so that a casing or housing having a very pleasing appearance will be produced. A casing of this type may be comparatively light and inexpensive since various rib supporting elements and strengthening means may be molded as an integral part thereof and threaded bushings,

from its guarding posiamasar Q sa inserts and the like may similarly be molded therein. As best shown in FIG. l of the drawings, these casing sections such as 21 and l2,2' are preferably designed in a manner to provide a very pleasing appearance. As there illustrated, the clipper Ztlis of somewhat elongated construction with a power cord 24% entering one end of the housing and the cutting mechanism generally designated at 25 disposed at the other end of the housing.l Preferably asuitable removable comb guard generally designated at 26 in FiG. l of the drawings is provided to cooperate with the end of the housing with which the cutting mechanism 25 is associated. This guard enelos'es the cutting mechanism and cooperates with the housing to hold the same in place. it preferably is made from a molded plastic and of a sufficiently resilient nature that it may readily conform to the end of the housing but of suliicient rigidity to give adequate protection to the cutting mechanism 25.

As is best shown in FlGS. 2, 4, 5, 6r, 9 and l() of the drawings, the lower housing section 22 is provided with upwardly extending side flanges 22a and 2211 and a rear end flange 22C (FIGS. 2 and 3) to define a cup-shaped member for receiving therein a motor and shearing head su'basscmbly-generally designated at 28 and described in greater detailrhereinafter. For increasing the ystrength and rigidity of the casing section 22 a plurality of transversely extending ribs such as 29 and 30 integrally formed with casing section 22 are provided. These ribs 29 and 3d are near the end of the casingadjacent the cutting mechanism 25. Preferably and for a purpose which will become apparent as this description proceeds, transverse ribs 31 and 32 (FIG. 7) interconnect the ribs 29 and 30 to form a rectangular recess 33 for receiving a rectangular rubber grommet 34 having a rectangular central opening 35i. This grommet really is a lower rubber bumper. in order to facilitate placing the rectangular rubber bumper 3ft into the rectangular recess 33 defined by the ribs 29, 3i), 31 and 32one side thereof is formed with an arcuate configuration 34a as clearly shown in FIG. 7 of ofthe drawings. The sole function of this is to facilitate insertion thereof into the recess 33. Preferably the housing section 22 is provided with a recess 36 (FIG. 3) beneath the opening 35 and conforming.substantially to the opening 35 in size and shape.l At the power cord end of the casing section 22 there are provided a plurality of transverse ribs i0 and 41 which are generally parallel to end frange 22C and, as will become apparent from the ensuing description, provide support for the power cord and strainy relief means.

The upper casing section 21 similarly includes side flanges 21a and 2lb and a cord end iiange 21C (FIG. 3) to engage with the corresponding iianges 22a, 22h and 22C already described to define a complete housing. To insure a satisfactory joint between the two casing sections 21 and 2?., the flanges 21a, 21b,.2lc, 22a, 22h and 22C are designed to provide an interlocking t at least over a substantial portion of the extent of these flanges such as is best shown at 42 in FIG. 9 of the drawings. Also casing section 22 is provided with positioning pins d3 integrally formed therewith to assist in assembling the two sections.

For the purpose of securing the two housing or casing sections together with the interlocking relationship clearly shown in FIG. 9, the housing section 21 is provided with a plurality of depending post or columnlike members 21d, one of these being at the center rear (FIG. 3) and two additional ones being adjacent the forward portion of the casing (FIGS. 4 and S). rfhese columns 21d each include a threaded insert designated as i4 which is molded into the housing section when the housing section is formed. Similarly, the housing section 22 is provided with a plurality of cooperating columns 22d, one at the center rear Vof the casing section, as clearly shown in FiGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, and two at the forward part of the housing, as best shown in FlGS. 4 and 7 of the drawings. The

columns 22a' are provided with central openings which lead to recesses 47 (FlG. d) defined on the outside wall of housing section 22 so that suitable screws 48 may be received therein with the heads disposed in the recesses /527 and the other ends of the screws threadedly engaging the tapped inserts 44. The columns 2id and 22d arecoaxial and are designed so that the ends of the columns abut, as clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, when the housing comprising the sections 21 and 22 is assembled. The upper housing section 21 also has a pair of transverse ribs t9 and 50 defined at the rear thereof cooperating with the ribs dil and 41 of the lower housing section 22.

ln order to provide a strain relief for the power cord 2d an enlarged T-shaped portion 51 is integrally formed with the insulation of the power cord. The head of the T designated as 51a is a vertically disposed rectangular plateiike member with its upper and lower portions disposed in recesses defined between rib 50 and flange 21e and rib 41 and flange 22C, respectively, as best shown in FiG. 3 of the drawings. The strain'relief member 51 additionally includes a horizontally extending portion Sib which has the forward end thereof abuttingagainst the ribs eil and 49, which ribs are preferably provided with cooperating recesses to define an opening for the conductors of the power cord 24.

To provide rigidity at the forward portion of the casing section 21 and to support a suitable sealing member generally indicated at 54 there are provided a plurality of transverse ribs 55 and 56 (FIGS. 3 and 8) integrally formed with the casing section 21. The ribs 55 and 56 each have a plurality of notches 57 and S8, as best shown in FIG. l() of the drawings, provided therein to accommodate certain portions of the clipper mechanism as will become apparent from the following description. Similarly, the sealing member 54 has a lower portion thereof provided with a pair of notches 59 and 60y and an additional central notch'61, as best shown in FIG. l0 of the drawings. Preferably, this sealing member 54 is formed of foam rubber or similar material and, as will become apparent from the ensuing description, precludes the entry of hair clippings and the like into the casing containing the subassembly 23.

In accordance with the present invention and as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8 of the drawings, the upper casing section 21 is provided with an integral depending circular rib 60 defining a circular recess 61 therein for receiving a circular rubber or resilient grommet 62 somewhat analogous to the rectangular grommet 34 described in connection with the lower casing section 22. This grommet 62 is preferably formed of resilient rubberlike material and really defines an upper rubber bumper, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

For the purpose of providing a simple, compact and highly efficient motor subassembly 2S which can readily be mounted within the housing defined by the casing Sect1onsk21 and 22, there is provided a motor frame 64 preferably formed asV a die casting. it will be apparent that to provide a proper hair clipping operation a powerful motor is desirable. The frame 64 is provided at one end with a sort of rectangular frame section 64a for suitably mounting an electric motor 66 which has been illustratedras a simple compact motor with no brushes or contacts which could cause radio or television interference. As illustrated, the motor 66 is a powerful resonant motor comprising a field structure 67 formed of U-shaped laminations held together by suitable rivets such as 68. This stack of U-shaped laminations has the bight thereof secured-by suitable fastening means 70 extending through openings in the stack of laminations to the frame 64, the frame being provided with upwardly directed flanges 64b snugly receiving the :tield structure 67, as best seen in FLGS. 2, 6 and of the drawings. Preferably the frame ed, which is die cast, has a narrow, slightly raised integral of the knob in the direction of the major axis of the elongated opening 12).

In accordance with the present invention, the tubular portion 121a is adapted to receive a compression spring 122 biasing a contact ball 123 toward contact lugs 133 and 114. The contact ball 123 when disposed between the spherical contact portions 113a and 114e, as shown in FIG. ll of the drawings, bridges these contacts and completes the electrical circuit to define the closed position of the switch 74. On the other hand, when the knob 121 is moved to the other extreme position, clearly shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, the contact ball 123 is in engagement only with the spherical contact 113a and this is the open position of the switch 74.

For the purpose of insulating the terminal plate 112 vand 'associated contact lugs 1=13 and 114 and particularly Afor insulating the electrical connections made to these lugs, there is provided a folded sheet of insulating material 124 which, in one section 124a, is provided with openings or slits 125 aligned with the slits 115 and 116 defined in the terminal plate 112. Moreover, the conductors schematically indicated las being connected to` the switch 74 in FIG. 14 of the drawings are specifically connected one to one arm of the U-shaped contact lug 113 and the other to the other arm of the U-shaped contact lug 114 after these lugs have passed through the aligned sli-t-s in members 112 and 124. The other section 124b of folded insulating sheet 124 then encloses these connections between the fold of the sheet sections 124x: and 124b.

The casing sections 21 and 22 are designed with suitable recesses such as 126 and 127 (FIG. 13 of the drawings) to receive projecting ends 117C and 117d, respectively, of the switch bracket 117 so that when the casing is assembled the switch bracket 117 and, consequently, the associated par-ts of the switch are firmly secured to the casing. Moreover, the casing sections are provided with a recessed portion 128 in the case of the casing section 22a and a recessed portion 129 in the case of the casing section 21a (see FIG. l3 of the drawings) for the knob 121, this resultant recess being delined to limit the maximum movement in either direction of the knob 121 from the open to the closed position of the switch 74. It will fbe apparent that there has been provided a very simple switch which can be manufacture at a very low cost and yet which controls the energization of the motor 66 as desired.

From the above description it will be apparent there has been provided a simple and compact clipper mechanism in which a powerful resonant motor is employed and in which ya motor and shearing subassembly are provided which may readily be inserted within a casing defined by the housing sections 21 'and 22. Moreover the subassembly is keyed to the casing by resilient mountings which insure that vibrations produced by the motor are not transmitted to the casing.

In View of the detailed description included above the operation of the clipper embodying the present invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Moreover, from the labove description it will be apparent that a very simple, compact clipper is provided which is especially weil adapted for home use and which can be sold at a relatively low cost. The clipper, furthermore, is adapted to give long years of foolproof service.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may obviously be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and it is desired in the appended claims tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. in -a -hair removal device a frame, a motor including a movable armature mounted on said frame, relatively movable h-aircu-tting elements supported on said frame, means operatively relating said armature and at least one of said haircutting elements, said frame, motor and cutting elements defining a unitary subassembly, a casing for said subassembly, a pair of projections defined on said subassembly on opposite sides thereof to define a pivotal axis, means defining recesses in said casing for receiving said projections and forming the sole support for said subassembly in said casing, and a rubber like bumper clisposed in each of said recesses, each bumper having an opening defined therein for receiving one of said projections.

2. The device of claim l wherein resilient pads are secured within said casing to engage said frame when pivotal movement of said subassem-b'ly about said pivotal axis exceeds a predetermined magnitude.

3. In a hair removal device a frame, a motor mounted on said frame, said mot-or including a movable armature pivotally mounted on said frame, a comb secured to said frame, a cutter mounted in shearing engagement with said com-b, a lever pivoted on the pivotal axis of said armature interconnecting said armature and cutter, the aforementioned elements of said hair removal device defining an operative subassembly, a casing for said subassembly, a pair of projections defined on said subassembly 'on opposite sides thereof to define a pivotal axis coincident with the pivotal axis of said armature, and means defining recesses in said casing 'for receiving said projections.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein one of said projections and associated recess is circular and the other of said projections and associated recess is rectangular, and resilient means are interposed between said projections and recess to define a cushioned support for said subassembly within said casing whereby vibrations of said subassembly are not transmitted to said casing, said rectangular projection keying said su'bassembly to said casing.

5. A hair clipper comprising a frame, a resonant motor secured to said frame at one end thereof, a bell crank pivoted to said frame, the armature Iolf said motor secured Ato one arm of said bell crank, a comb secured to the other end of Isaid frame, a cutter mounted in shearing engagement with said comb, means for operatively relating said cutter to the other arm of said ibell crank, said frame, motor, bell crank, comb and cutter defining an operative subassembly, a casing for said subasseembly, .a pair of projections defined on said subassembly on opposite Isides thereof with the axis of said projections coincident with the pivotal axis of said bell crank, means defining a first recess in said casing for receiving one of said projections, means dening a second recess in said casing for receiving the other yof said projections, and resilient means disposed in eac-h of said recesses and surrounding said projections Ito provide a cushioned support for said subassembly.

6. A hair clipper comprising la frame, -a resonant motor secured to said frame at one end thereof, a bell crank pivoted to said frame, the armature of said motor secured to one arm of said bell crank, a comb secured to the other end of said frame, a cutter mounted in shearing engagement with said comb, means for operatively relating said cutter to the other arm of said bell crank, said frame, motor, bell crank, comb and cutter defining an operative subassembly, la casing for said subassembly, a first circular projection defined on one side of said subassembly, a second rectangular projection defined on the opposite side of said subassembly, the longitudinal axes of said projections being coincident with the pivotal axis of said bell crank, means defining a first circular recess in said casing for receiving said first projection, means defining a second rectangular recess in said casing for receiving said second projection, and resilient means disposed in each of `said recesses and surrounding said pro- 11 jections to provide a cushioned support `'for said subassembly.

7. A hair clipper comprising a `frame, a pair of rela tively movable shearing elements supported at one end rof said frame, 'spring means having `a yportion thereof secured to said frame for biasing said shearing elements intojsliearing engagement, a mot-or mounted `on said frame and operatively connected to produce relative movement between said shearing elements, la casing for said motor and frame defining a handle to manipulate said clipper', said casing being open at one end to expose said shearing elements, a pair of closely spaced transverse ribs within said casing and integral therewith dening a recess Vthere between, a resilient sealing member for the open end of said casing. to prevent hair clippings fxom reaching said motor, one edge of said sealing member being `disposed in said recess, said sealing member including one or more slits nfor permitting said spring means to extend therethrough, and means on rthe other edges of said sealing member conform-ing with cooperating portions of said frame `and easing.

8. The hair clipperjof `claim 7 wherein the edge of said sealing member opposite said one edge includes a plurality of spaced notches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,798,756 Redfield Mar. 3, 1931 1,887,968 Tompkins et al. Nov. 15,V 1932 2,042,666 Kunkle june 2, 1936 2,343,237 McElroy et =al Mar. 7, 1944 2,512,499 Loosen une 20, 1950 2,528,035 Clayton Oct. 31, 1950 2,550,145 Geci Apr. 24, 1951 2,565,697 Od-strcil Aug. 28, 1951 2,601,720- Carissimi July 1, 1952 2,668,351 Andis etal. Feb. 9, 1954 2,704,887 Andis Mar. 29, 1955 2,790,236 Andis Apr. 30, 1957 2,819,522 Jepson Ian. 14, 1958 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OE CORRECTION Patent No 3O79687 March 5`z 1963 Ivar Jepson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat# ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5,z line 349 for "provide" read provided W5 lines 58 and 591I for "lowermost" read lowern -eg Column 'IY line 65l for "Jenson" read Jepson -mg Column 8z line 181 for "Upoin" read Upon fm; line 2811 for "ball" read be11 ee; line 5211 for "13" read 113 fm; column 9Xz line 5,7 for u133" read me 113 line 15o for "manufacture" read m manufactured =-g column IO7 line 35Q for grecess read Signed and sealed this 8th day of October 1963o (SEAL) Attest:

EDWIN Lor REYNOLDS VIIRNES'I W. SWIDER Attesting Officer AC t ng Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OE CORRECTION Patent N00 BWO'ZQVB? March 59 1963 Ivar Jepson It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered pat-4 ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

o Column 5 line 34 for "provide" read provided e3 lines 58 and 59U for "lowermost" read lower --g column 7 line 65X for "Jenson" read e- Jepson 1; column 817 line 18 for l""Upoin" read Upon me; line 28 for "ball" read bell me; line 52z for "13" read 113 mg column 9z line 5g for "133" read 113 ee; line 45D for "manufacture" read manufactured column l0v line 359 for "recess" read recesses Signed and sealed this 8th day of October l93 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWIN L REYNOLDS 'ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer ACt-Dg Commissioner of Patents 

3. IN A HAIR REMOVAL DEVICE A FRAME, A MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, SAID MOTOR INCLUDING A MOVABLE ARMATURE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A COMB SECURED TO SAID FRAME, A CUTTER MOUNTED IN SHEARING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COMB, A LEVER PIVOTED ON THE PIVOTAL AXIS OF SAID ARMATURE INTERCONNECTING SAID ARMATURE AND CUTTER, THE AFOREMENTIONED ELEMENTS OF SAID HAIR REMOVAL DEVICE DEFINING AN OPERATIVE SUBASSEMBLY, A CASING FOR SAID SUBASSEMBLY, A PAIR OF PROJECTIONS DEFINED ON SAID SUBASSEMBLY ON OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF TO DEFINE A PIVOTAL AXIS COINCIDENT WITH THE PIVOTAL AXIS OF SAID ARMATURE, AND MEANS DEFINING RECESSES IN SAID CASING FOR RECEIVING SAID PROJECTIONS. 